Building brands in a changing society

Mobile Comes First for New Generation of Digital Dependents

Move over digital natives; an even more connected generation is coming of age. Digital natives were born in the era of the PC and grew up alongside the Internet. In contrast, digital dependents were born after the internet was invented and couldn’t imagine a world without a mobile device and always-on connectivity.

And what does the future of connectivity look like when a generation grows up dependent on smart phones and social media? The Futures Company and Kantar Retail offer a look at how mobile and social platforms are likely to evolve:

– The first screen will be portable, whether phone or tablet sized or somewhere in between;

– Apps will be designed to suit mobile first, laptops second;

– Devices will serve as a portal to personal content stored in the cloud;

– At least some of the user’s needs will be anticipated because data has been gathered about habits and interests.

This last point is good news for marketers because it predicts a future where consumers are even more willing to share personal data as long as value is provided by brands in return. Still, marketers have a challenging job ahead if they are to keep pace with the sophisticated expectations and behaviour of a digital dependent generation.